< UJobe 12 >
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 “Wo, lina yini elizibona kuyini abantu, njalo lolwazi luzakufa lani!
Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
3 Kodwa lami ngilayo ingqondo njengani; kalingedluli ngalutho. Ngubani ongazaziyo izinto zonke lezi?
I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4 Sengiyinto yokuhlekisa ebanganini bami, lanxa ngacela kuNkulunkulu waphendula, inhlekisa sibili, kodwa ngilungile, ngimsulwa!
A laughter to his friend I am: 'He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5 Abantu abahlezi kuhle bayakweyisa ukwehlelwa ngumnyama, bathi kuyimfanelo yalabo onyawo zabo sezitshelela.
A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6 Amathente ezigebenga avikelekile, lalabo abamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, uNkulunkulu ulabo ezandleni zakhe.
At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
7 Kodwa ake ubuze izinyamazana, zizakufundisa, kumbe izinyoni zemoyeni, zizakutshela;
And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
8 kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, loba uthi inhlanzi zolwandle zikwazise.
Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
9 Yikuphi kwalezizinto okungaziyo na ukuthi yisandla sikaThixo esikwenzileyo lokhu?
'Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
10 Esandleni sakhe kulempilo yazo zonke izidalwa lokuphefumula kwabantu bonke.
In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.'
11 Indlebe kayiwahloli yini wonke amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla?
Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12 Angithi ukuhlakanipha kufunyanwa ebadaleni na? Angithi impilo ende iletha ukuzwisisa na?
With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.
13 NgokukaNkulunkulu ukuhlakanipha lamandla; ukweluleka lokuzwisisa kungokwakhe.
With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.
14 Lokho akubhidlizayo kungeke kwamiswa njalo; lowo amvalelayo ngeke avulelwe.
Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
15 Angaze awavale amanzi, kuba lokoma; angawavulela kuba lomonakalo elizweni.
Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
16 Angawakhe amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohliswayo lomkhohlisi ngabakhe bonke.
With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17 Abeluleki uyabakhupha bahambe beze enze abehluleli babe yiziphukuphuku.
Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
18 Uyanyomula izibopho ezibotshwe ngamakhosi azibophe ngelembu ekhalweni.
The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
19 Abaphristi uyabakhupha beze awagenqule amadoda abesithi asegxilile.
Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
20 Uyazithulisa izindebe zabeluleki abathenjiweyo asuse ulwazi lwabadala.
Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
21 Izikhulu uzihleka usulu abalamandla abathathele lawomandla.
Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22 Uyembula imfihlo ezenzeka emnyameni amathunzi azikileyo awalethe ekukhanyeni.
Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
23 Wenza izizwe zikhule, abesezidiliza; uyaziqhelisa izizwe, aphinde azichithe.
Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
24 Abakhokheli basemhlabeni ubemuka ukuhlakanipha kwabo; ubenza bantule enkangala.
Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!
25 Bayaphumputha emnyameni kungelakukhanya; ubenza badiyazele njengezidakwa.”
They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.